Utility Rate Expert Consultant Support Services

The Contractor shall provide utility rate contract supports to assist the URMT to support Air Force installations worldwide. Perform utility acquisition and rate management, to procure utility service at a fair price and reasonable terms. SCOPE: The contractor shall furnish all personnel, services, materials, supplies and equipment necessary to fulfill the requirements of this performance work statement. PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS: The contractor shall provide all personnel, management, labor, supervision, travel and services required to provide professional utility rate support services. Additionally, the contractor shall provide services covering all facets of utility services with emphasis on solution of planning, engineering, and economic problems, which affect the acquisition and management of utility services for the Air Force worldwide. The contractor shall prepare and provide written reports of utility acquisition assessments, containing the contractor's findings and recommendations. The contractor's utility acquisition assessments may also involve the evaluation of options and methods for reducing utility costs and for making effective, efficient use of utility services; conducting engineering and economic analysis and making recommendations for utilities related facilities and service issues such as high voltage discounts and ownership of facilities; and evaluation of trends in terms of cost and availability of utilities to support determination of long- range planning parameters for USAF installations. The contractor shall support these tasks that are variable in scope, timeliness, and priority level. Task One - Utility Consultation/Guidance The contractor shall provide expert utility consultation services, advice and guidance on an as required basis. The contractor shall respond to requests for information within 24 hours of notification. Should the contractor be unable to respond to requests for information within 24 hours of notification, the contractor shall inform the government Contracting Officer Representative (COR) and obtain approval for an extension. The Government reserves the right to not grant extensions to the response time. Task Two - Acquisition Assessments The contractor shall conduct utility assessments and identify solutions to planning, engineering, and economic problems, which affect the acquisition and management of utility services. Assessments may include validating terms and conditions of service are appropriate for the military; evaluation of options and methods for optimizing utility cost and making effective, efficient use of the utility service; conducting economic analysis and making recommendations for utilities related facilities and service issues such as high voltage discounts and ownership of facilities; and evaluation of trends in terms of cost and availability of utilities to support determination of long-range planning parameters for USAF installations. The contractor shall perform the assessment as an installation site visit or as a desk audit on an as needed basis as determined by the government. Task Three - Data Support Utility Acquisition Assessments The contractor shall evaluate all available data in support of utility acquisition assessments. The data may be government furnished information (GFI), gathered via data call or installation site visit, or from utility company and public utility commissions, as necessary, to include utility contracts, 1-2 years of monthly bills, Commission filings, notices of rate increase or change of terms, etc. The Contractor shall identify applicable federal, state, and local statutes; Air Force/Military/Host Nation instructions, manuals, handbooks, regulations, guidance, and policy letters; and Executive Orders (EOs). Task Four - Site Visits The contractor shall visit installations and utility companies on an as needed basis in order to gather the necessary data required to conduct utility acquisition assessments. The contractor shall be available for installation visits after notification from Government within 30-60 days of receiving and reviewing all government furnished information from the bases. The contractor's utility rate expert with the COR shall visit or conduct conference calls, as needed to MAJCOMs, USAF installations, and utility providers to gather the necessary data required to conduct special utility rate studies. During the first call, the contractor shall conduct a briefing to government- only personnel to discuss the objectives of the special utility rate study. During the last call, the contractor shall conduct an out-briefing to government personnel to review the report or special study containing contractor's findings/ recommendations. For each site visit, the contractor shall prepare and provide a written trip report no later than five working days after the visit. The trip report shall contain a list of attendees, a description of the efforts accomplished during the trip, describe each issue discussed in the meeting, and list any open action items to be resolved by any party (the USAF, the company, or the contractor). Task Five - Trip Reports The contractor shall provide an agenda of the proposed discussions topics prior to each installation site visit and a trip report within a week upon return. The agenda shall contain a description of each issue to be discussed in the meeting and list any open action items to be resolved by any party (the installation, the utility company, or the contractor). Task Six - Negotiation Strategies - Tech Support The contractor shall provide technical support for negotiations in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) of utility service contracts and modifications to existing utility commodity and service contracts including rates, facilities charges, termination liabilities, connection charges, contracts terms/conditions; review and analysis of cost-of-service studies for electric, gas, water and sewage services from regulated, co-op, municipal or other unregulated suppliers, and development of negotiation strategies with consideration given to potential alternate suppliers (including federal power marketing agencies) that are accessible through wheeling/transportation agreements or regulatory changes, and incentive packages. USAF negotiation objectives are to obtain required, reliable utility service with fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory rates consistent with mission requirements that result in the lowest total cost to the USAF with quality, reliability, and other pertinent factors considered. Prior to a negotiation session, the contractor shall review and analyze all relevant documents affecting the rates, charges, general terms and conditions of service applicable to the USAF including the utility supplier's cost to serve the USAF; the existing or proposed USAF utility service contract including modifications and related correspondence to determine if benefits could be derived by incorporating special clauses or rates contained in such contracts in the USAF contract. At least five working days prior to a negotiation session, the contractor shall prepare and submit a letter containing recommended negotiation strategies. When appropriate, the contractor shall recommend changes to the method of delivery and delivery points, including comments on any potential for the USAF to obtain the service from alternative supplier(s). The contractor shall review the final draft of utility service contracts or modifications to utility service contracts and provide appropriate comments. The contractor shall not negotiate with the utility supplier unless the involved operational Contracting Officer or COR is present in person or on the phone. Task Seven - Negotiation Strategies - Recommendations The contractor's utility rate expert shall provide a preliminary brief to government personnel on the problem, objectives, and recommended negotiation strategies. Upon resolution, the utility rate expert shall brief the appropriate government personnel to explain how the problem was solved, the results of the negotiations, the cost avoidance and/or savings that were achieved and, when appropriate, make recommendations or suggest new approaches for any subsequent negotiations. No later than five working days after a negotiation session, the contractor shall prepare and submit a written report to include meeting minutes. This report shall contain a description of the efforts accomplished at the negotiation session, describe each issue addressed in the negotiation session, and list any open action item to be resolved by any party (the USAF, the company, or the contractor). The report following the final negotiation session shall include positive and/or negative impact of the negotiations, comparative calculations of the USAF utility cost and usage computed as the differentials between the old rate and charges and the new rate and charges as a result of the negotiations, and the cost avoidance and/or savings that are stated, implied, or imputed from the results of the negotiations. Task Eight - Final Report Findings and Recommendations The contractor shall provide a final, written, report of findings, recommendations and proposed actions to implement contractual changes and/or potential cost savings from utility companies within 65 calendar days of final installation visit or receipt of all GFI. The contractor shall provide detailed instructions for the Government to implement potential cost avoidance under $80k/year (AFI 32-1061) and correspondence and documentation (i.e., draft letter to utility company requesting rate adjustment/rebate, etc.) by which to implement cost avoidance over $80k/year, or as determined by the government. Task Nine - Monthly Monitoring The contractor shall provide a comprehensive 12 monthly monitoring summary of state regulatory issues that directly affects Air Force bases and Federal Executive Agencies (FEA). The report shall include utility rate-related cases, state rulemakings, and other policy and regulatory news. The summary shall detail electric, gas, water, and any other utility related rate issues. The contractor shall provide a brief summary of the history of the issue, provide the docket or tracking number, other interveners if there is a case, Air Force bases and/or FEA bases affected by the proposed change, potential impact to FEA. The report shall be delivered promptly in the first week of each month. Task Ten - Travel Travel to all (CONUS and/or OCONUS) locations may be required in support of the requirements identified in the In Section C above. All travel must be approved by the COR and CO in advance and costs associated with travel shall be reimbursed under the Travel CLIN on the task order. Travel shall be based on the current Federal Travel Regulations and/or Joint Travel Regulations (FTR/JTR). It is the responsibility of the Contractor to have the necessary credentials prior to traveling.